International
Angelina Jolie funds all-girls school in Afghanistan
New Delhi: Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie has opened an all-girls school in Afghanistan.
Jolie, the goodwill ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has funded a girls-only primary school outside the Afghan capital of Kabul, where there is a large refugee population and education of females is lacking.
The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict aims to reach a total of one million “children in conflict, post-conflict refugee and emergency situations,” Angelina said at a press conference announcing its launch.
She plans to build more schools around the world from profits gained from her jewellery collection, Style of Jolie, designed by Robert Procop. "We launched this collaborative collection with the intent that 100 percent of the profits will go to charity," Procop said.
Jolie was named Goodwill Ambassador for The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2001.
The organisation credits the actress with carrying out more than 40 field missions in remote regions around the world “to highlight the plight of millions of uprooted people and to advocate for their protection”, according to a statement on the UNHCR website.
International
Russia-India cinematic spectacle Persimmon of My Love set for grand Moscow debut
Hindi cinema style musical revives Indo-Soviet cinema ties for today
MUMBAI: A new chapter in cross-border storytelling is set to unfold as Persimmon of My Love gears up for its premiere in Moscow on 1 April 2026, marking the first large-scale cinematic collaboration between Russia and India in decades.
Positioned as a modern nod to the cultural exchange that once brought Indian classics to Soviet audiences, the film blends Hindi cinema flair with Russian storytelling, aiming to rekindle a long-standing cinematic friendship.
Directed by Marius Weisberg, the musical comedy follows two brothers navigating a lively world of music, family and romance. The lead roles are played by Demis Karibidis and Mikhail Galustyan, with Karibidis also contributing as a screenwriter.
Shot entirely in India, the production leans heavily into Hindi cinema style spectacle. Filming took place across Mumbai studios and the cities of Udaipur and Jodhpur, whose architecture was used to create the fictional setting of Khurmada. A crew of over 350 worked on the project, with large-scale sequences featuring up to 1,000 extras.
The film also brings Indian creative talent into the mix. Dance sequences are choreographed by Jay Kumar, while music by Zurab Matua features songs in both Hindi and Russian, adding to its cross-cultural appeal.
Backed by TNT channel, MyWayStudio and the Russian Cinema Fund, the project reflects a broader push to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
With its mix of colour, comedy and cross-border collaboration, Persimmon of My Love is not just a film release but a reminder that cinema, much like music, travels well across borders.
